Paving machine or compacting machine



Nov. 15, 1955 c. JACKSON PAVING MACHINE OR COMPACTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1951 INVENTOR. J6 Comm/Z Jae/{$012 fifira 6 United States Patent "cc PAVING MACHINE 0R COMPACTING MACHINE Corwill Jackson, Ludington, Mich., assignor to Jackson Vibrators, Inc., Ludington, Mich;

Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,281

13 Claims. (CI. 94-48) This invention relates to improvements in a paving machine or compacting machine.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine which is efiicient for the compacting of various materials used as foundations in pavements, landing fields and other relatively large areas, and also desirable for use in applying asphalt surfacing material to foundations.

Second, to provide a machine of this character which is of very large capacity and the use of which results in a very great saving of time.

Third, to provide a machine having these advantages which is easy to operate and automatically adjusts itself to the compacting of. foundations and surfacing of pavements and. the like.

Fourth, to provide a machine of the vibratory type in which the degree of compacting thrust may be quickly varied through a very considerable range.

Fifth, to provide a structure of this character comprising a plurality of vibratory units arranged in side by side relation and which are independently vibrated and mounted for independent adjustment relative to the material being compacted; for instance, material disposed to provide a crowned pavement foundation or surface and at the same time subject it to substantially the same degree of thrust or thrust load resulting in substantially uniform work by the several units.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the features of my invention, various parts being shown conventionally and certain parts being omitted for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 4 with the vibratory members in elevated or retracted position relative to the material being compacted, the machine being illustrated in relation to crushed rock foundation material.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig- 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of one of the compactor or vibratory units, parts being broken away in section to illustrate; structural details.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaly view partially in vertical section of details of the means for raising, lowering and variably controlling the. driven parts of the machine.

Fig. 7 is, an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to 77 of Fig. 1 showing details of the mounting of they drawbars.

It should be understood that in the accompanying drawings no attempt is made to show the parts in their relative proportions and various parts are shown conventionally for convenience in illustration with certain de- 2,723,608 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 tails not included as it is thought that they would tend to confuse rather than clarify the invention of this application.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is especially designed for the laying of pavement, airfields and the like which are commonly provided with a foundation on which surfacing material is laid. One extensively used type of foundation material for pavements is crushed rock which, owing to the irregular character of the fragments, is quite difficult to compact or settle to minimize voids. It has been a Wide practice to do this compacting by means of heavy rollers. After the compacting it is common to spread so-called fines upon the compacting material and it is desirable that that be worked into the compacted bed. The surfacing material is placed on this foundation.

In my application for Letters Patent filed August 14, 1951, Serial Number 241,720, I illustrate and describe a machine especially adapted for the laying of asphalt surfaces on pavements and the like. That application discloses and is directed to a single unit. In the embodiment of this invention illustrated I employ a plurality of units of the character disclosed in that application. In its broader aspects my present invention contemplates the use of other forms of vibratory shoes or units.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents the material to be compacted, such as crushed rock. The carriage designated generally by the numeral 2 comprises a suitable frame 3 and carrying wheels 4 and 5, the wheels 4 preferably being dual wheelsas they carry a major part of the weight of the machine. The Wheels 5 are steering wheels and the steering column 6 is disposed in front of the operators seat 7. The connections for the steering column to the steering wheels are not illustrated but'may be of the conventional type.

The combined engine and general unit is designated by the numeral 8. This unit in the commercial form is desirably an internal combustion engine of desired capacity and a generator. The engine is connected by a suitable transmission designated generally by the numeral 9 to the driving wheels, the clutch and shift lever being indicated at 10.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises four vibratory units 11 disposed in side by side relation. The number of these units is varied according to the requirements of the particular machine, that is, as to the width of the surface to be worked at one pass of the machine. These vibratory units are all carried by the crosshead 12 which is mounted on the forward swinging ends of the beams or supporting bars 13 pivoted at 14' on the pedestals 15 carried by the frame. The supporting bars or beams 13 are connected by the cross member 16 to swing together. The crosshead 12 is provided with a plurality of crossarms 17 spaced longitudinally of the crosshead and fixedly secured thereto as by means of clamps 18.

The vibratory units 11 of the embodiment illustrated are substantially those of my application for Letters Patent filed August 14, 1951, Serial Number 241,720 and comprise a base or shoe designated generally by the numeral 19 and comprising a fiat-faced rear member 20 and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front member 21, the rear edge of which overlaps the front portion of the rear member 20 at 22. Each unit includes an electric motor 23 mounted on the blocks 24 carried by the top frame members 25 and 26. The shaft or rotor 27 of the motor is provided with unbalancing Weights 28 (see Figs. 5). Each rotor is operatively connected to the generator, a fragment of the cable being indicated at 29. The vibratory'units are vibrated at high frequency. It will be noted that the axis of the rotor is in front of the transverse center of the vibratory unit. This and the mounting of the units results in the front of the shoes having the greatest amplitude of vibration. The greatest impacting force is on the portion 22 of the shoe; however, the entire shoe is subject to high frequency vibration.

The vibratory members or units are all mounted on the cross head for simultaneous manipulation therewith and the description of the mounting of one applies to all of them. The crosshead is provided with a plurality of crossarms, each crossarm 17 has a hanger 30 depending from its front end, each hanger having a crossbar 31. Pairs of drawbars 32 are pivotally connected at 33 to the hanger crossbar and their rear ends are pivotally connected at 34 to forwardly projecting arms 35 on coupling members 36. The members 36 are mounted on the studs 37 disposed within the shoe and adjacent the rear end thereof and in the zone of approximately the minimum amplitude of vibration of the vibratory member. Flexbile hanger straps 38 are connected to the crossbar of the hanger 30 and to the front end. of the shoe. These hanger straps are provided to raise the front end of the vibratory member when it is raised from the surface being worked as shown in Fig. 3. When the vibratory member is in working position as shown in Fig. 1, these hanger straps are slack.

To support and apply thrust to the vibratory members the crossarms 17 are provided with guide or bearing members 39 at their rear ends slidably receiving the plunger rods 40 which have collars 41 on their upper ends engaging the members 39 when the crosshead is elevated. The plunger rods are provided with crossbars 42 at their lower ends, coil springs 43 being arranged be tween these crossbars and the bearing members 39 to impart yielding thrust to the plunger rods when the crosshead is lowered. The crossbars 42 are connected to the coupling members 36 by the resilient coupling and thrust members 44 which are desirably formed of sections of reinforced rubber hose of suitable weight. These members 44 are telescoped on studs 45 pivotally mounted on the crossbars 42 and on the studs 46 on the coupling members 36.

The crosshead is raised and lowered and supported in different vertically adjusted positions by hydraulic means comprising the cylinders 47 which are pivotally mounted at 48 on the carriage frame, the plungers 49 being pivotally connected at 50 to the supporting bars 13.

The pump conventionally shown at 51 is suitably continuously driven when the machine is in operation, the driving connections not being illustrated. The inlet of the pump 52 opens to the sump or storage reservoir 53 and its discharge 54 is connected to the control valve 55 positioned to be manipulated by the operator from the seat 7. The valve is connected by the conduit 56 to the cylinders 47, the conduit 56 having branches 57 and 58 for this purpose. By this means the vibratory units may be lowered to operative position as shown in Fig. 2 or raised to inoperative position as shown in Fi 3 or supported in varying work positions to vary the load or gravity thrust of the crosshead and the parts carried thereby or connected thereto upon the vibratory units.

In the embodiment illustrated this is accomplished by the relief or by-pass valve 59 which is connected to the discharge conduit 54 of the pump in advance of the control valve 55 and has a by-pass discharge 60 delivering to the sump or reservoir 53. The pressure control valve 61 is biased to its seat by the spring 62 carried by the adjusting screw 63.

The control valve 55 may be opened to the desired degree to lift the crosshead to inoperative position or to lower it to work position and the by-pass valve may be adjusted to counterbalance the crosshead and the parts carried thereby to deliver the desired thrust load to the work, that is, within the capacity of the machine.

As an example of the work which may be done by the machine, applicant desires to point out that in the laying of pavements of the type having a crushed rock foundation, the rock is distributed according to specification but frequently to a depth of ten to twelve inches. This loose foundation material is compacted to the desired degree and it has been the common practice to use a heavy machine roller, the material being traversed by the machine several times for the purpose of reducing the voids between the aggregate. This commonly requires numerous passes over the work. A covering of fine filler, dust and limestone, for example, is then spread over the compacted material and worked into the voids between the fragments. Applicant is aware that this has been done by vibratory devices.

After the fines have been worked into the coarse aggregate the slab or foundation is commonly soaked with water after which it is again rolled to final contour. This is generally known as waterbound macadam. Many engineering specifications require rollers of not less than ten tons and at least six hours rolling time. The surfacing material is then applied.

The applicants machine is very effective for compacting the foundation material, the vibratory members being lowered into contact with the material and subjected to the desired degree of thrust in addition to their weight. Ordinarily two passes reduce the voids between the coarse aggregate as effectively as several passes of a roller machine. The applicants machine is also very highly efiicient in working the fines into the aggregate and in compacting the asphalt surfacing.

As an operating illustration, in the applicants present commercial machine the weight of each vibratory unit is approximately 400 pounds and the weight of the crosshead and the parts carried thereby approximates 1000 pounds. Consequently when the full weight of the crosshead is applied to the vibratory members the thrust weight of each vibratory member is 650 pounds; however, they are supported independently so that they may conform to crowns or the like and the vibratory units may yield independently in passing an obstruction. Different types of aggregates, for example aggregates of different sizes, and different thickness of bed make dilferent downward pressures desirable for the most efficient results and the applicant is able to vary this quickly and easily to meet the desired conditions.

It will be noted that the vibratory shoes have openings or perforations 64 therein and are provided with a filler mass 65 adapted to receive a lubricant and gradually feed it upon the surfacing material, such as asphaltic material, in advance of the shoe. This is fully described in my application for patent referred to Serial Number 241,720.

With this arrangement of parts I provide a machine which is of very large capacity and is well adapted for compacting foundation material such as rock fragments, the distributing or working of fines therethrough and also the laying of the surfacing material.

I have described the operation of the machine in the compacting of rock fragments but it is highly desirable for compacting other materials such, for example, as the paving foundation of highways in which the foundation material is soil or mixed soil and gravel, the surfacing asphalt being laid directly thereon as is the case with many rural highways and side streets. A thoroughly compacted foundation is a highly desirable factor in providing a relatively smooth and durable pavement. The surfacing of airfields is frequently laid directly on a compacted earth foundation.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various adaptations as to structure and different means for counterbalancing and raising and lowering the crosshead as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described-my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentis;

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead disposed at the front and transversely of the path of "travel of the carriage and having crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, crosshead supporting bars swingably mounted on said carriage in transversely spaced relation said crosshead being mounted on the swinging ends of said' supporting bars, a plurality of vibratory units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising a shoe, means for vibrating said shoe, hangers fixedly mounted on the front ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars disposed in transverse relation to said crossarms, drawbars pivotally mounted on said hanger crossbars and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes, flexible hanger straps connected to the front ends of the vibratory unit shoes and to said hanger crossbars, combined vibratory unit thrust and support members comprising plunger rods slidably connected to the rear ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars at their lower ends, coiled thrust springs disposed on said plunger rods between their said crossbars and said crossarms, pairs of resilient coupling and thrust members connected to said plunger rod crossbars and to said vibratory unit shoes, and hydraulic means operatively associated with said crosshead supporting bars for supporting and raising and lowering the crosshead, said hydraulic supporting means being variable for variably controlling the gravity thrust of the crosshead and the parts carried thereby upon said vi bratory units through their said connections to the crosshead.

2. in a machine of the class described,'the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead disposed at the front and transversely of the path of travel of the carriage and having crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, crosshead supporting bars swingably mounted on said carriage in transversely spaced relation said crosshead being mounted on the swinging ends of said supporting bars, a plurality of vibratory units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising a shoe, means for vibrating said shoe, hangers fixedly mounted on the front ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars disposed in transverse relation to said crossarms, drawbars pivotally mounted on said hanger crossbars and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes, flexible hanger straps connected to the front ends of the vibratory unit shoes and to said hanger crossbars, combinedvibratory unit thrust and support members comprising plunger rods slidably connected to the rear ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars at their lower ends, coiled thrust springs disposed on said plunger rods between their said. crossbars and said crossarms, pairs of resilient coupling and thrust members connected to said plunger rod crossbars and to said vibratory unit shoes, and means operatively associated with said crosshead for supporting and raising and lowering the crosshead and variablycontrolling the gravity thrust of the crosshead and the parts carried thereby upon said vibratory units through their said connections to the crosshead.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mountedt on said carriage for vertical adjustment and having crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vibratory units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising a shoe, and a motor carried by the shoe and having an unbalancing rotor disposed with its axis transversely of the shoe and substantially in advance of the longitudinal center thereof, drawbars for said vibratory units swingably connected to the front ends of said crossarms and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately the zone of minimum amplitude of vibration thereof, flexible hanger straps connected to the front ends of the vibratory unit shoes and to the front ends of said crossarms, vibratory unit thrust and support members comprising spring biased plungerrods slidably connected to the rear ends of said crossarms, resilient means connecting said plunger rods to said vibratory unit shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately the zoneof minimum amplitude of vibrations thereof, and hydraulic means for adjustably supporting said crosshead, said hydraulic means being variable for variably controlling the gravity thrust of the crosshead and the parts carried thereby upon said vibratory units through their said connections to the crosshead.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment and having crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vibratory units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising'a shoe, and a motor carried by the shoe and having an unbalancing rotor disposed with its axis transversely of the shoe and substantially in advance of the longitudinal center thereof, drawbars for said vibratory units swingably connected to the front ends of said crossarms and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately the zone of minimum amplitude of vibration thereof, flexible hanger straps connected to the front ends of the vibratory unit shoes and to the front ends of said crossarms, vibratory unit thrust and support members comprising spring biased plunger rods slidably connected to the rear ends of said crossarms, resilient means connecting said plunger rods to said vibratory unit shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately, the zone of minimum amplitude of vibrations thereof, and means for adjustably supporting said crosshead.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage transversely of the path of travel of the carriage and for vertical adjustment and provided with crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vibrator-y units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising a shoe, means-for vibrating said shoe at high frequency comprising an unbalancing rotor disposed with its axis transversely of the shoe and substantially in advance of the longitudinal center thereof, hangers fixedly mounted on the front ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars disposed in transverse relation to said crossarms, transversely spaced drawbars pivotally connected to said hanger crossbars and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately the zone of minimum amplitude of vibration thereof, transversely spaced flexible hanger straps connected to said hanger crossbars and to the front ends of the vibratory unit shoes, connections between said shoes to the rear ends of said crossarms including springable compressible elements connected to the shoes adjacent the rear ends thereof and in approximately the zone of minimum amplitude of vibrations thereof, and means for raising and lowering the crosshead and adjustably supporting it to limit its downward movement, said raising and lowering means including means providing for vertical floating movement of the crosshead from such adjusted position due to upward pressure of the work on the shoe as the shoe travels over the work.

- 6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage transversely of the path of travel of the carriage for vertical adjustment and provided with crossarms spaced longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vibratory units disposed in side by side relation and each comprising a shoe, means for vibrating said shoe at high frequency, hangers fixedly mounted on the front ends of said crossarms and provided with crossbars disposed in transverse relation to said crossarms, transversely spaced drawbars pivotally mounted on said hanger crossbars and pivotally connected to the vibratory unit shoes, connections between said shoes to the rear ends of said crossarms including springable compressible elements, and means for raising and lowering the crosshead and adjustably supporting it to limit its downward movement, said raising and lowering means including means for vertical floating movement of the crosshead from such adjusted position due to upward pressure of the work on the shoe as the shoe travels over the work.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment, a plurality of vibratory members disposed in side by side relation, means for vibrating said members at high frequency, drawbars for said vibratory members supportedly connected to said crosshead for vertical swinging movement and pivotally connected to the vibratory members, vibratory member thrust means comprising vertically slidable spring biased plunger rods supportedly connected to the crosshead and provided With crossbars at their lower ends, resilient coupling and thrust members connected to said plunger rod crossbars and to said vibratory members, and means for raising and lowering the crosshead and adjustably supporting it to limit its downward movement, said raising and lowering means including means providing for vertical floating movement of the crosshead from such adjusted position due to upward pressure of the work on the shoe as the shoe travels over the work.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a vertically adjustable crosshead disposed in front of said carriage and transversely of the path of travel thereof, vibratory members disposed in side by side relation, means for vibrating said vibratory members at high frequency, means for independently supporting said vibratory members from said crosshead comprising drawbars supportedly connected to said crosshead for vertical swinging movement and pivotally connected to said vibratory members adjacent the rear ends thereof, hanger straps carried by said crosshead and connected to the front ends of said vibratory members, resilient thrust connections between said crosshead to said vibratory members connected to said crosshead and vibratory members, and hydraulic means for adjustably supporting said crosshead, said hydraulic means being variable for variably controlling the gravity thrust of the crosshead upon the vibratory members through the said resilient thrust means.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a vertically adjustable crosshead disposed in front of said carriage and transversely of the path of travel thereof, vibratory members disposed in side by side relation, means for vibrating said vibratory members at high frequency, independent propelling connections between said vibratory members and said crosshead permitting independent vibration and vertical movement thereof, resilient thrust connections between said crosshead and each of said vibratory members, and hydraulic means for adjustably supporting said crosshead, said hydraulic means including means for variably controlling the gravity thrust of the crosshead upon the vibratory members through the said resilient thrust means.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a vertically adjustable crosshead disposed in front of said carriage and transversely of the path of travel thereof, vibratory members disposed in side by side relation, means for vibrating said vibratory members at high frequency, independent draft connections for said vibratory members to said crosshead permitting independent vibration and vertical movement thereof, resilient thrust connections between said crosshead and said vibratory members, and adjustable means for raising and lowering the crosshead between operative and inoperative positions of the vibratory members on the work, said adjustable means including means for counter-balancing said crosshead whereby the gravity thrust of the cross-head upon the vibratory members may be varied.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment and for vertical floating movement, a plurality of vibratory members disposed in side by side relation and connected to said crosshead to be raised and lowered therewith for horizontal translation therewith, a resilient vertical thrust transmitting means disposed between said crosshead and each of said vibratory members, and manually controllable means for raising and lowering the crosshead between operative and inoperative positions of said vibratory members on the work, said means including means for variably counterbalancing the said crosshead whereby the thrust thereof on said vibratory members may be varied.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead disposed transversely of the travel of the carriage and mounted thereon for vertical adjustment, a plurality of vibratory units, each including a shoe, the shoes being disposed in side by side relation, means carried by each of said shoes for vibrating it at high frequency, draft connections between each of said shoes and said crosshead permitting vertical and transverse tilting movement of each shoe independently of other shoes, including a springable thrust connection between each shoe and said crosshead including a spring biased plunger carried by the crosshead, a crossbar pivotally mounted on said plunger, resilient thrust members connected to said crossbars on opposite sides of its pivotal connection to said plunger and connected to said shoe adjacent the sides thereof, and means for vertically adjusting said crosshead.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, of a crosshead disposed transversely of the travel of the carriage and mounted thereon for vertical adjustment, a plurality of vibratory units, each including a shoe, the shoes being disposed in side by side relation, means carried by each of said shoes for vibrating it at high frequency, draft connections between each of said shoes and said crosshead permitting vertical and transverse tilting movement of each shoe independently of other shoes, including a springable thrust connection between each shoe and said crosshead including a spring biased plunger carried by the crosshead, a crossbar pivotally mounted on said plunger, resilient thrust members connected to said crossbars on opposite sides of its pivotal connection to said plunger and connected to said shoe adjacent the sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,038,416 Clifford Apr. 21, 1936 2,214,093 Venable Sept. 10, 1940 2,332,687 Baily Oct. 26, 1943 

